Welcome to The Sikh Gurudwara of
North Carolina where visitors of all backgrounds are welcome regardless of
race, religion, ethnicity, gender or any other distinction. This page is
designed to help first time visitors learn some basic protocols of the Gurudwara.

Gurudwara Facility:

The Gurudwara Saheb is a two story
building. First floor features the lobby, bathrooms, and a Langar Hall. The
second floor is the main Diwan Hall where the services are held.

The facility provides free parking
and handicap access. Due to our growing congregation, we do encourage visitors
to car pool to the Gurudwara.

Our main hall is equipped with
projector screens that display English translation of the prayers. While everyone
sits on the floor for the main services and the lunch, we do provide
benches and chairs for the handicapped. We, unfortunately, do not provide
wheelchairs; however, we do have wheelchair access to both the upper main
hall and the Langar hall.

If you have special needs, please
inform us ahead of your visit.

Our Gurudwara is open to visitors at
all times; however, since services are held mainly on Sundays, it is best to
visit the Gurudwara on Sunday. (Please see the program page for schedule.)

Please dress comfortably when you
visit the Gurudwara. Most visitors do wear their Sunday bests; however, we
encourage comfort over looks. Please keep in mind that we do sit
on the floor for our services. You will notice that most ladies wear
traditional Indian dress while men dress in more western cloths. However, our
non-Sikh visitors should know that type of dress, color or anything of that
nature is of no significance. We do suggest to ladies, however, not wearing
short skirts as sitting on the floor can be uncomfortable.

It is mandatory to keep one's head
covered while on the Gurudwara premises. Please consider bringing your own
scarf or a shawl. If you do not bring one, we will provide you with
one. We do not permit hats or caps.

A Gurudwara is the doorstep (dwara)
of the Guru. All are welcome. As you enter the building, you will be asked to
remove shoes/socks. The lobby has shoe racks on each side for shoes and
bathrooms right next to each shoe rack. Please wash your hands before proceeding
upstairs.

Visitors are welcome to have some
snacks from the Langar Hall as needed.

Stairs angle up from either side of
the ground floor to the Diwan Hall. As you head up, please be sure to silence
your cell phone and or pagers. Please be sure that your head is covered with a
scarf or a turban.

Once upstairs, you will be facing a
stage with a Manji, a seat, in the center. Over the Manji
is a Chandoa, a canopy. A person is usually seated behind the Manji with a
Chaor of fine white hair. All of these items are suitable for the throne of a
King. (See image above)

On the Manji is placed Guru
Granth Saheb Ji. To an average person, Guru Granth Saheb Ji may be a
book; however, to the Sikhs, Guru is our God, our King, our saviour, and our
guide all rolled into one. All of the pomp and show is to show devotion and
respect.

We ask that visitors approach the Guru
respectfully. Bowing before the Guru is encouraged as Guru is not just of Sikhs
but of all humankind; however, it is not a requirement. We do not wish for
visitors of other faiths to feel uncomfortable.

After bowing, please seat yourself
to either side. During normal programming, a Granthi Singh or another member of
Sangat is on the stage singing the hyms that are taken directly from Guru
Granth Saheb. There are two projector screens on either side of the hall so
that the visitors can read the translations of the hymns being sung line by
line. If you are familiar with the words, you are encouraged to sing along.

At the conclusion of the program,
there is a standing prayer led by a Granthi Singh. The entire congregation
stands in attention with hands folded and facing the Guru Saheb. Once this
standing prayer is completed, a response from Guru Granth Saheb is read aloud
for all to hear. Again, the overhead projectors will display the Hukam, or
Order, of Guru Saheb and its translation.

After the Hukam is read, Bhai Saheb
takes a few moments to explain the Hukam in Punjabi, the native language of the
Sikhs. And then a sweet is served, called Parshad, or "blessing,"
made of wheat flour, water, butter and sugar. We ask that visitors accept the
Parshad with both hands and refrain from putting it on the floor. Often times,
during the serving of Parshad, managment makes a few announcements. Visitors
are also introduced to the congregation either by themselves or by their hosts.